Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Just Label It Campaign Has Launched

As of yesterday morning, the Just Label It Campaign, an initiative seeking the labeling of genetically engineered foods, has launched. The Campaign hopes to raise awareness of GE foods and their affect on public health in an effort to drive consumers to let Washington know that they want to know what's in their food. To this end, the Campaign has created a legal petition written by attorneys at the Center for Food Safety calling for the mandatory labeling of GE foods. The petition was submitted in September to the FDA, and those who sign it will have an opportunity to have their comments read and carefully considered by the FDA prior to their final ruling. Hundreds of partner organizations, including CT NOFA, have joined together in support of the FDA petition and the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.

So why should we label GE foods? The Campaign writes, "Unlike most other developed countries – such as the 15 nations in the
European Union, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Russia and even China – the
U.S. has no laws requiring labeling of genetically engineered foods. Yet
polls have repeatedly shown that the vast majority of Americans, – over
90% in most studies – believe GE foods should be labeled. As ABC News stated, 'Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare.'" Americans want labeling of GE foods for a number of reasons, including religion, health, the environment, and safety. While the benefits or ricks of GE foods has and will be a subject up for heated debate, the Campaign makes the point that, while this debate continues, "an entire generation will have grown
up consuming [GE foods]. We should all have a choice about whether we want to
participate in this grand experiment with our bodies and our
environment. We have a right to know what’s in our food." After all, the right to know has long been a core American value.

Sign the FDA petition here. Find out more about the Just Label It Campaign here.